The Honor Flight Savannah will take six Sun City residents on a one-day trip to Washington, D.C., on Friday. Arnold Rosen and Dick Fordyce are two veterans in Sun City who are excited about returning to see the many historic memorials in Washington.

Fordyce served three years in the U.S. Army Infantry as a machine gunner. He later became a rifle-squad leader in the Korean War. Fordyce was in Washington when the Korean War Memorial was revealed in 1995.

“I’m excited to see it again in a different light,” Fordyce said. “But I can’t wait to see the World War II Memorial because I think it will be spectacular.”

For Rosen, the last time he was in Washington was 20 to 30 years ago when he visited the Smithsonian. Rosen served in the Air Force for four years as a radio operator.

Rosen said he remembers promising his parents that he wouldn’t be an airborne radio operator, but he didn’t always have the choice to stay on the ground.

“I had to fill in for the guy who was the airborne radio operator because occasionally he would be on leave,” Rosen said.

Rosen said his experience in the military was very positive and it renewed his motivation to go to school. Both Rosen and Fordyce have heard exciting things about the Honor Flight from veterans who have gone before.

“I’ve had people tell me that it was their best day of their lives,” Rosen said. “I have Dick to thank for getting me interested in going.”

Rosen was wary about going on the Honor Flight due to several ailments, but he was assured by Fordyce that the volunteers of the Honor Flight would make it comfortable for him.

Rosen said he had to buy cargo pants so he will be able to hold his camera and tape recorder. He has written two books about the experiences of veterans who live in Sun City.

“The military taught me great training, leadership and responsibility,” Rosen said. “I was fortunate to meet great people who I still contact.”

Fordyce and Rosen look forward to meeting the other veterans and experiencing Washington in a different light than 20 years ago.

The Honor Flight will take 28 veterans on the trip. Veterans are to meet on Friday in Savannah and take a bus to Potomic Mills, Va., to stay overnight until the bus trip to Washington on Saturday morning.

The veterans will visit the WWII Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery to see the changing of the guards, and the Women at War Memorial.